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Computer Consulting / Services

Google warns entire Internet is malware

I have been saying this for years. Very interesting article.
Read story here!

Circuit City to shut down remaining stores

I called it once again. Bye Bye C.C. I liked you a lot. Man this economy bites.

Posted By: Erica Ogg

After exploring other options, Circuit City said Friday it will begin liquidating all remaining stores.

Circuit City calls it quits.

(Credit: Circuit City)

About 30,000 employees face layoffs as the rest of its 567 stores are closed. The fates of outstanding warranties, its Firedog repair service, and Canadian stores are still to be determined, according to the company.

The nation's second-largest consumer electronics retailer filed for bankruptcy in November and initially closed 155 retail outlets in an attempt to get its roughly $2 billion debt under control. Just a week ago, Circuity City announced it was in talks for a sale with two "highly interested" parties. After the talks broke down, the company said, it had no choice but to liquidate all remaining merchandise and shut its doors.

"We are extremely disappointed by this outcome. The company had been in continuous negotiations regarding a going concern transaction. Regrettably for the more than 30,000 employees of Circuit City and our loyal customers, we were unable to reach an agreement with our creditors and lenders to structure a going-concern transaction in the limited timeframe available, and so this is the only possible path for our company," James Marcum, acting president and chief executive officer for Circuit City, said in a statement.

The disappointing, recession-weakened holiday season likely sealed the retailer's fate, although the real problems began before the economic downturn. The retailer had posted several huge losses late 2007 and early 2008, but the rash of bank failures in September and October proved disastrous for it.

The resulting global credit crunch hit Circuit City hard. The retailer buys TVs, stereos, laptops, and other gadgets on credit, usually at a good rate from vendors with the promise to pay them back once the company sells the goods in its stores. But as the company racked up huge losses, and credit became suddenly more expensive, vendors stopped giving Circuit City reasonable financing rates.

Nokia N97- Full details and release date

I am a fan of Nokia since the 90's. I really want this phone, but I doubt it will be affordable. Touch and QWERTY is an awesome idea. Read details below.
Posted December 2nd, 2008 by Andrew Boxall in Mobile Phone Handsets

We heard about it at the end of last week, but we had no idea just how exciting Nokia’s announcment would be! Christmas has come early this year as Nokia has revealed their brand new N-series handset, the N97 - and we couldn’t have wished for anything better! Take a look at the headline features:

Key Features of the new Nokia N97

• Touch display (3.5″ of it) which slides and tilts to reveal a full QWERTY kepboard plus d-pad for easy navigation.
• 5 Megapixel Camera
• Carl Zeiss integrated optics coupled with a dual LED flash
• A massive 32GB of internal memory with MicrSD support for further memory expansion
• Integrated Assisted GPS
• WiFi and HSDPA
• DVD quality video capture and 16:9 display

The N97 is a cutting edge smartphone that includes support for their OVI service as well as the Nokia Music Store. Nokia have called the N97 “the most advanced mobile computer” and have done well to keep ahead of current mobile phone usability trends. With more and more people using their phones to browse the net, to access email accounts and share photos online we expect that the likes of the N97 will become the most demanded everyday phone. GPS has also become a standard on handsets and more and more people are expecting their phones to have integrated GPS. App developers are also aware of this and the number of cool GPS reliant applications is growing at a phenomenal rate.

Nokia have divulged that the expected release date for the N97 is in the first half of 2009 and is expected to hold a pre-tax price tag of 550 Euros. So if you are wanting to get this handset soon after public release expect to take out a higher tariff package if you want it for free.

This program will rid most malware/adware trojans that give you that pop-up that will not go away and bugs you to death til it forces you to buy it. Don't if you can help it just download the following and say thanks Tech-Boy!!!

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.31

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a surprisingly effective freeware antimalware tool. It's a relatively speedy malware remover, with the quick scan taking about 10 minutes. The heuristics engine proved on multiple computers during empirical testing that it was capable of determining the difference between false positives and dangerous apps.

The app has some nice features rolled in, too. It supports multiple drive scanning, context menu options including a scan-on-demand for individual files, and the FileAssassin option under the More Tools section for removing locked files. The interface is simple, but pleasant-looking and well-organized. Tabs live just below the oversized logo, with few options per tab to keep down the clutter. The installation process was fast enough, but interestingly offered up the well-kept changelog and an instant definition file update.

Do note that the real-time protection is restricted to the paid version, as is the scheduler for updates and scans. Overall, though, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a responsive malware remover that does what it should with a minimum of fuss.

Download Now (2.42MB)

Google's secret operating system

I have been saying this for 2 years now. I knew it!!! Just like I knew they were up to a phone OS (Android). I need to go ahead and invest stock into Google while it is down. I seem to predict their every move.

Posted by Matt Asay

Reports have spread about a possible new operating system in use at Google, one its employees have been using to browse the Web.

There are all sorts of theories about what Google is up to (from a port of Android to the desktop to a new software-as-a-service infrastructure), but I like OStatic's synopsis and theory most:

Android ported to the PC--or even the 2006-era dream of a "Goobuntu" desktop--are, of course, possible, but if not overly costly for Google to undertake, would at least be major time investments. Those sorts of investments might pay off over time, but a software-as-a-service product (one "to use as an infrastructure for network applications that could be deployed virtually anywhere") gives Google an advantage in the operating-system market, should have a faster return on investment, and complements the free services Google already offers.

I don't see Google coming out with a desktop operating system anytime soon, though I think that longer term, an Ubuntu-Google desktop makes a lot of sense. But building out an open-source infrastructure for network applications? That seems to fit the Google playbook.

While Google seeks to cut costs as its growth slows, it's likely that its technology bets will be a bit more conservative for the near term. A SaaS bet is safer and, hence, more likely, at least in the short term.

Apple deletes Mac antivirus suggestion

What??? Too funny Steve Jobs.

Posted by Elinor Mills

Updated 7:45 p.m. PST with expert comment, at 7:20 p.m. PST with context on previous coverage, and at 7:08 p.m. PST with background. Apple late on Tuesday removed an old item from its support site that urged Mac customers to use multiple antivirus utilities and now says the Mac is safe "out of the box."

"We have removed the KnowledgeBase article because it was old and inaccurate," Apple spokesperson Bill Evans said.

"The Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious software and security threats right out of the box," he said. "However, since no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, running antivirus software may offer additional protection."

Apple's previous security message in its KnowledgeBase, which serves as a tutorial for Mac users, was: "Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult."

Security experts, while pleased that Apple would urge Mac users to install antivirus software, had warned that running multiple antivirus products could cause problems and recommended against it.

Apple's antivirus support note was initially published last year and was updated last month, despite reports that it was a new note.

One Apple expert speculated that Apple was merely removing a poorly worded support note and said it probably wasn't ever Apple's intention to tell Mac users they need antivirus.

"I bet you it was a low-level support note and it hadn't gone through the right approvals," said Rich Mogull, security editor of Apple news site TidBITS. "That's my guess."

To some, Apple's latest move will be seen as back-tracking given that it comes one day after those misleading reports circulated. The motive remains unclear, particularly because Apple didn't replace the previously published suggestion with an updated one.

The message that remains is that Mac users don't really need to take additional steps to protect against viruses and other malware. Telling customers they can run antivirus for "additional protection" could be interpreted as a way to protect against any liability.

There are no known viruses in the wild that exploit a vulnerability in the Mac OS, and Windows continues to be the overwhelming preference for malware writers to target their programs. But malware isn't just taking advantage of operating system weaknesses anymore. In fact, the majority of such threats now come from code that targets weaknesses in browsers and other applications that aren't platform specific.

Mogull said he doesn't recommend that the average Mac user install antivirus software because of the low-level of malicious software seen for Macs at this time.

To me, this new Apple statement poses more questions than it answers.

Regardless of the meaning of Apple's latest action, I'm pleased to now have open lines of communication with the company. Over the last few months, I have had an increasingly difficult time getting any response to my e-mails and phone calls. For instance, I got no response to my requests for comment on Monday's article about this topic. However, after talking to several Apple spokespeople on Tuesday about the matter I am confident that the situation has been cleared up.

I also was reminded of how much collective knowledge CNET readers have about Apple and would like to extend an invitation for people to feel free to contact me directly at elinor.mills@cnet.com with any feedback and tips related to Apple security issues.

Apple suggests Mac users install antivirus software

I knew it was coming. More Macs means more potential for virus attacks. Hackers will prevail so having a proffesional computer tech will be your only savior.
Eric


Posted by Elinor Mills

In what appears to be a first, Apple is recommending that Mac users install antivirus software.

But don't read this as an admission that the Mac operating system is suddenly insecure. It's more a recognition that Mac users are vulnerable to Web application exploits, which have replaced operating system vulnerabilities as the bigger threat to computer users.

Apple quietly signaled its shift with an item titled "Mac OS: Antivirus utilities" posted on its Support Web site November 21: "Apple encourages the widespread use of multiple antivirus utilities so that virus programmers have more than one application to circumvent, thus making the whole virus writing process more difficult."

The item offers three software suggestions: Intego VirusBarrier X5 and Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 11 for Macintosh, both available from the Apple Online Store, and McAfee VirusScan for Mac.

Brian Krebs, who first reported on the Apple antivirus recommendation Monday in his Security Fix blog at The Washington Post, said an Apple store employee told him he didn't need antivirus software when he purchased a MacBook three months ago.

Circuit City Update

Say good-bye to Circuit City

from CNET News.com

Noted by you:

“I told you they would be next to go.”

With 155 stores being shuttered across the United States and an impending New York Stock Exchange delisting, the electronics retailer's days are numbered.

Beware of AscendTech Inc

My Reviews

My rating: Poor

AscendTech

Willoughby, OH

Communications & Networking, Internet Consulting, Computer Consulting, Computer Stores, Computer Repair

Review Date: 10/15/2008

No loyalty to customers and quality of product and build sub-standard. Here is the email I sent and I received no response:

Dear AscendTech,

Thank you for your time, but we decided to go elsewhere for the purchase of the Dell notebook computer. So please cancel my order. We have never had to go through any type of purchase verification like yours and we believe it is unreasonable. Especially since we have purchased hundreds of dollars worth of computers from you in the past, but we understand it is your policy for our protection and yours.

We have purchased 2 PCs from you in the past that were substandard in quality in my opinion. So we will be blogging and rating your customer service and product quality throughout the web. If you offer a survey or rating of services/products on your web site please let us know.

Sincerely,
Eric R. Tremoureux
Tech-Boy Computer Solutions

Who were you in 2001? Check Google's old index

One of Google's 10th birthday gifts to the world is its re-release of a 2001 version of the search index. (The FAQ says there are "various technical reasons" for not displaying results back to Google birth year of 1998.) On it you can see what the service knew about any topic back then. Like you. Go ahead.

0E46E63E-05DE-24AA-3579-91906B024C25

1.02.05

Circuit City is going down hill fast!!!

CNet News


My favorite store may be suffering the same fate as CompUSA my old favorite computer/electronics store.

CNET News-Inside the digital underground

Very intresting.

Adware Trojans and Pop-ups!!

Did you go to a web site and download a nasty pop-up saying you have a virus, adware, and/or spy-ware? You may have downloaded and installed a little Trojan onto your hard drive and it is very difficult to remove. You tried Add & Remove Programs and still no luck.

Try this:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix
Combofix from BleepingComputer.com will usually do the trick 90% of the time.

Have questions or comments please post.